Feed mechanism for slicing machines



April 9, 1929. F. l.. VAN wl-:ENl-:N

FEED I'EICHANISM FOR SLICING MACHINES Filed Oct. 8. 1927 AParental Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCISCS L. VAN WEENEN, OF ROTTERDAM, NETHERLANDS, ASSIGNOR '10 U. S. SLICING MACHINE COMPANY, OF LA PORTE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF IN-` DIANA.

FEED MECHANISM FOR SLICING MACHINES.

Application led October 8, 1927, Serial No.

This linvention relates to mechanism for producing a step by step movement of the Work support for feeding the material toward the slicing machine knife and has for its object the provision of a feeding mechanism having, in addition to the usualL adjustment for thin and medium slices, a ooarser adjustment than has heretofore been possible for thicker slices. Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description.

Theinvent-ion is exemplified in the combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawing,'and described in the following specification, and it is more particularly pointed out in the Y appended claims. 1

In the drawing z- Fig. l is an elevation of a slicing machine having one embodiment of the present invention applied thereto; Y

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the feed mechanism on a larger scale thanv that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a somewhat diagrammatic approximately horizontal section View of the feed mechanism.

In the drawing, the numeral 10 designates the base of a slicing machine having a rotary circular slicing knife 11 and a feed table 12. The feed table 12 is reciprocated in the usual way by a crank 13 and connecting rod 14 operated .by a handr wheel 15. A feed screw 16 is journaled in a bearing 17 on the table 12 and is provided with a projecting spindle 18 having an arm 19 pivoted thereon. The arm 19V is held against a stop pin 20 by a 'spring 21 and is arranged to engage an adjustable fixed sto 22 by means of which the arm 19 is swung cijownwardly and rearwardly against the tension of the spring 21 when the table 12 moves to its forward position. A gear segment 23 is formed integral with the arm 19 and meshes with a pinion 24 carried by a stud sha-ft 25 journaled in a link 26 pivotally mounted on the spindle 18. The opposite end of the stud shaft 25 from the pinion 24 carries a gear 27 which meshes with a pinion 28 ournaled on the spindle 18. An arm 29 is formed integral with the pinion 28 and carries a pawl 30 pivotally mounted at 31 thereon. The pawl 80 engages a ratchet wheel 32 fixed tothe spindle 18. The

224,828, and in Germany Decembei` 23, 1926.

link 26 has an angular projection 823 which carries a spring-heid pin 34 arranged to cngage an opening in the arm 19, thus locking the link 26 to the arm 19. lV hen the parts are thus engaged, it will be apparent that the cam arm 19l and the pawl arm 29 will be rigidly held together and will rotate in unison upon the spindle 18. This is the arrangement employed for thev usual thin slices of meat. Each time the table is moved forward, the cam'arm 19 will strike the stop 22 and the pawl 30 will rotate the spindle 18 and feed screw 16 a small amount to feed the meat support on the table 12 toward the slicing knife in the well-known manner. The amount of rotation of the feed screw may be varied by'adjusting the stop 22 in its support.

Then it is desired to cut thick slices, the pin 84 will be withdrawn from thc opening 35 and inserted in an opening 36 in the stop pin 20. This will hold the link 26 in fixed position so that when the cam arm 19 is oscillated upon its spindle 18, the pinion 24- will be rotated by the gear segment 23 causing the gear 27 to drive the pinion 28 which carries the pawl arm 29. It will be seen from F ig. 8 that the gear ratio is such that the rotation is increased by the interposed gears 24 and 27 so that a` much greater movement will be imparted to the pawl arm 29 and consequentlq/l to the feed screw 16 than would be the case if the arms 19 and 29 were' moved in unison. In this way, a much coarscr adjustment is provided for cutting thick slices.

It is apparent that the coarser slices may be varied in thickness by adjusting the stop 22 in the same way that the thickness of the ner sliccsis adjusted.

I claim:-

1. In a slicing machine having a rotary slicing knife and a reciprocating work support, a feed screw, means for imparting step by step movement to said feed screw, and a motion increasing device arranged to be interposed between said last-named means and feed screw, and means for rendering said motion increasing device inoperative.

2. In a slicing machine, a feed screw, a reciprocating member for imparting movement to said feed screw, adjustable means for operating said reciprocating member to impart various movements to said reciproeating member, and means for changing the amount of movement imparted to said feed screw for a given movement of said reciprocating member.

3. In a slicing machine, a feed screw, pawl and ratchet mechanism for voperating said feed screw., an aijm for `opera-til i V 'and ratchet inecl'ianism, an adjustable stop for operating said arm, and adjustable speed changing mechanism interposed between said arm and pawl and ratchet mechanis-nii'.4

ratchet mechanism for operating said feed screw, an varm for operating said ratchet mechanism, means for imparting various movements to saidv arm, and means for changing the anioi-int of movement imparted to said ratchet mechanism forv a given movement of said arm.

6. In a slicing machine, a feed' sci'ev-.iI ratchet mechanism for operating said feed screw, anV arm for opei'atii'ig said'4 ratchet mechanism,,motion increasing Vgearing inten Y posed betweenI said arm andratcliet mecha# nisiii, and means for rendering .said gearing inoperative. y

7:.-In aslicing machine, 'a Yfeed screw, ratchet mechanism for operating said feed lscrew,an arm for operating said ratchet mechanism, gearing interposed between said varm and ratchet mechanism for increasing the movement between saidarm andratchet mechanism, and means for locking' said arm and gearing together to prevent increase ofninotion by said gearing. f

8. In a slicing machine, a feed screw,

ratchet mechanism for operating said feed screw,1an. arm for*operating` said vratchet mechanism, gearing interposed between said 'arm and ratchet mechanism, a movable mem bei' for supporting` said gearing, and means for locking said movable member in fixed said paul position to produce increased motion of said ratchet mechanism byy said arm.

- 9. In a slicing machine, aV feed screw, ratchet mechanism for operating ld feed screw, an. arm journaled on said feed screw, an adjustable stop fonopcrafting` said` arm, gearing interposed between said arm and ratchet mechanism, a movable nieinbel.' for supporting said gearing, and locking Vmeans arranged to heid, saidV member either in iixcd position erin Afixed relation' to said arm tokcause said arm to impart different amounts of movement to said feed screw for 'a given movement of said arm.

l0. In a. slicing machine, a feed screw, iiiechfanisiii for imparting step by step rotation to said screw, a movabie arm for actuating said mechanism, a meinb "er moving said arm teactiiate said mechanism, said arm and member being rclativeiyv adjustable to vary the amount ef rotary movement iinparted to'y said screw by said armandmechac nism, and means cri-operating with 'said a and mechanism inoperative in enepos. tofaliect the rotarym'oveiiient impem fl said' screw by lsaid arm and mechw operative in `another position to change the f ma: itijide' of rotary movement limparted to said screw by said arm andmechanism from that imparted vthereto'by said arm and .mechanism in any position of ustmentbei tweensaid ariiiand member..y

11. In a slicing machine, having a re,- ciprocatory cari'fiage and av feed screw, a paivl and ratchet for imparting step by step rotation to said sci-ew, an adjustable abutment stationary with respect to said carriage, an arm 'on ,saidv carriage' movable by vsaidiabutment, a second movable armen said carriage, Vco'-operating :between said secon'd arm` and; ratchet rotatable by gearing between said first andl second 'arm-s, means for'detaclia ,ly connecting said second arm tosaid first. armto move in unison with said pawl and first arm, and means for heid- 'ing said second arm stationary withlrespect FRAN-Cisnes L. as WENEN.

to said first' arm to act-nate said pawl :by ro- 

